Confirms starting left tackle Herrmanns is out for rest of regular season after a scope on knee.
West Lafayette, Indiana
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: We're definitely looking forward to getting back on the field this Saturday. An away game at Minnesota.
The last time we came off a pretty good-sized win, we went on the road and lost, so that's going to be the challenge. We've got a team that's going to be Very hungry. They didn't play the way they wanted last week against Illinois and they have had a good season so far, and I know they will come in this game hungry.
The challenge for us is to practice extremely well this week, practice hard, be the hungrier team, want to win the game, prepare ourselves, take the field we know we have a chance to win and go out and play as hard as we can.
We're anticipating cold elements. Our guys are going to have to have some toughness and be able to play strong, play through the elements and find ways to win the football game.
Q. As look ahead to Minnesota, they had a change on their staff on the defensive side. How will that affect preparation for you guys, maybe because you don't know exactly what to expect there?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Well, without question, the uncertainty and the unknown is a little bit of a factor and you have to make sure you understand that, and they can do some things they haven't done before, and they can maybe change a little or they can maybe change a lot. So you have to be prepared for that. The only thing we have going for us a little bit is we go against our guys on defense. They can give us every look known to man.
So we think we have a decent plan for every different thing we can see, but yes, not being able to truly watch film and know exactly what they are going to do and what they have done in the past and will it carry over is a concern. You have to make sure that you're prepared for that, and you have answers to things that could pop up.
Q. Injury concerns.
A. Got to continue to get Rondale as healthy as we can. Trying to think, there might be a few other things that our guys are held out a little bit but I'm hopeful and optimistic that everyone should be back for the game as far as I know.
Q. They have the Big Ten leader in sacks but nobody else on the team has more than one. How do you go about maybe treating him like a highlighted player where David and Kirk are pointing out where 45 is pretty much on every play?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Well, you definitely have to be aware when you're in some protections. You know, the one-on-one matchups, he did a great job of beating. What he is, is a fast, quick rusher. He has great athleticism, and I think he beats a lot of big guys with his speed.
So when we have a back, he's got to be aware if he's to the side. We've got to be chipping on the way out. We've got to make sure that he understands that he can't just run around the edge. We've got to slide the protection to him some. He is a very, very productive player, and he's created half being on a lot of good teams, a lot of good players, and yes, we have to be aware every time where he's at.
Q. Back to Grant Hermanns. Was that an injury that happened in a game?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: No. Unfortunately during practice last week it happened.
Q. When did Hermanns have surgery?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Friday morning and it was hopeful to try to get him back as healthy as he can as soon as he can. But you know -- I don't know the official timetable. I'm going to guess it's going to be a good, solid four weeks, but that could change to a little more possibly.
Q. Before the game last week, you said Herdman was probably questionable at best, but he was able to get out there. So do you feel like he's going to be good to go this week?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: You talking about Cole?
Q. Cole Herdman, and I think D.J. had something on his hand.
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: You know what Cole is a tough young man. He gives us everything he has. He's experienced some issues with some upper extremities that we're trying to just get him healthy to the game. They flare-up quite a bit, so at any given time, it can happen and he'll have to come out.
D.J. was able to come back in. He got some X-rays and MRIs and we don't have the full results on that. I am optimistic, unless we see something more than we think, that he should be able to play.
Q. Back to the previous question about Minnesota making the change on their coaching staff. Illinois had a change but that came at the end of the year. Internally what happens to a staff or a team when coaching changes are made like that in the middle of the season, or you still have a game? What things from your standpoint have you learned about that that you can prepare your team for this week?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Well, I think every situation's different, so it's hard for me to comment on theirs. I don't understand the full dynamics of everything other than they changed their defensive coordinator.
You know, for us, there's going to be a little bit of an unknown, uncertainty that you've got to prepare for. I wouldn't think they would change drastically but there is change. That's why it was made. Whether they are going to be more aggressive or whether they are going to keep it front of them and bend-but-don't-break or whether they are going to blitz more or change everything, you know, I don't anticipate that, but I would expect some changes.
Fortunately like I said, we prepare against our defense. They run everything you can think of. I think that's beneficial. We practice against it. You know, a lot of things can happen. This team can rally and they can play great for their new coach who they love and things are going great, or we can come out and we can play well.
Playing an away game, they are going to have a lot of emotion. I'm sure they are going to try to play extremely hard for their new defensive coordinator. It's important game for them, and when you're coming off a game maybe you think you should have played better, you normally prepare very well. So we will have our hands full.
Q. I think Missouri did the same thing prior to playing you guys last year. Is that right?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: You know, you are correct. Fortunately for us that, one worked out for us.
This team has played a lot of football. They started the season very well. They had some tough opponents and obviously last week didn't go the way they wanted, but that's football. We all have weeks where things don't go the way we want, and I'm sure they will respond. They are well-coached and they will come out ready to play.
Q. You mentioned the potential cold weather coming up Saturday. How do you address your team with that or is it something better left unsaid?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Well, we have to make sure we're practicing outside. We're in the elements. It won't be as cold here as it's going to be on Saturday.
Nothing more than letting them know it's going to be cold and you've got to go out there and execute and keep yourself warm and play football. I mean, this time of the year, wherever you're at, you could have some possible cold games. Obviously going to Minnesota in November, it's going to be cold, and you have to react to it and hopefully our guys can respond.
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West Lafayette, Indiana
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: We're definitely looking forward to getting back on the field this Saturday. An away game at Minnesota.
The last time we came off a pretty good-sized win, we went on the road and lost, so that's going to be the challenge. We've got a team that's going to be Very hungry. They didn't play the way they wanted last week against Illinois and they have had a good season so far, and I know they will come in this game hungry.
The challenge for us is to practice extremely well this week, practice hard, be the hungrier team, want to win the game, prepare ourselves, take the field we know we have a chance to win and go out and play as hard as we can.
We're anticipating cold elements. Our guys are going to have to have some toughness and be able to play strong, play through the elements and find ways to win the football game.
Q. As look ahead to Minnesota, they had a change on their staff on the defensive side. How will that affect preparation for you guys, maybe because you don't know exactly what to expect there?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Well, without question, the uncertainty and the unknown is a little bit of a factor and you have to make sure you understand that, and they can do some things they haven't done before, and they can maybe change a little or they can maybe change a lot. So you have to be prepared for that. The only thing we have going for us a little bit is we go against our guys on defense. They can give us every look known to man.
So we think we have a decent plan for every different thing we can see, but yes, not being able to truly watch film and know exactly what they are going to do and what they have done in the past and will it carry over is a concern. You have to make sure that you're prepared for that, and you have answers to things that could pop up.
Q. Injury concerns.
A. Got to continue to get Rondale as healthy as we can. Trying to think, there might be a few other things that our guys are held out a little bit but I'm hopeful and optimistic that everyone should be back for the game as far as I know.
Q. They have the Big Ten leader in sacks but nobody else on the team has more than one. How do you go about maybe treating him like a highlighted player where David and Kirk are pointing out where 45 is pretty much on every play?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Well, you definitely have to be aware when you're in some protections. You know, the one-on-one matchups, he did a great job of beating. What he is, is a fast, quick rusher. He has great athleticism, and I think he beats a lot of big guys with his speed.
So when we have a back, he's got to be aware if he's to the side. We've got to be chipping on the way out. We've got to make sure that he understands that he can't just run around the edge. We've got to slide the protection to him some. He is a very, very productive player, and he's created half being on a lot of good teams, a lot of good players, and yes, we have to be aware every time where he's at.
Q. Back to Grant Hermanns. Was that an injury that happened in a game?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: No. Unfortunately during practice last week it happened.
Q. When did Hermanns have surgery?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Friday morning and it was hopeful to try to get him back as healthy as he can as soon as he can. But you know -- I don't know the official timetable. I'm going to guess it's going to be a good, solid four weeks, but that could change to a little more possibly.
Q. Before the game last week, you said Herdman was probably questionable at best, but he was able to get out there. So do you feel like he's going to be good to go this week?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: You talking about Cole?
Q. Cole Herdman, and I think D.J. had something on his hand.
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: You know what Cole is a tough young man. He gives us everything he has. He's experienced some issues with some upper extremities that we're trying to just get him healthy to the game. They flare-up quite a bit, so at any given time, it can happen and he'll have to come out.
D.J. was able to come back in. He got some X-rays and MRIs and we don't have the full results on that. I am optimistic, unless we see something more than we think, that he should be able to play.
Q. Back to the previous question about Minnesota making the change on their coaching staff. Illinois had a change but that came at the end of the year. Internally what happens to a staff or a team when coaching changes are made like that in the middle of the season, or you still have a game? What things from your standpoint have you learned about that that you can prepare your team for this week?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Well, I think every situation's different, so it's hard for me to comment on theirs. I don't understand the full dynamics of everything other than they changed their defensive coordinator.
You know, for us, there's going to be a little bit of an unknown, uncertainty that you've got to prepare for. I wouldn't think they would change drastically but there is change. That's why it was made. Whether they are going to be more aggressive or whether they are going to keep it front of them and bend-but-don't-break or whether they are going to blitz more or change everything, you know, I don't anticipate that, but I would expect some changes.
Fortunately like I said, we prepare against our defense. They run everything you can think of. I think that's beneficial. We practice against it. You know, a lot of things can happen. This team can rally and they can play great for their new coach who they love and things are going great, or we can come out and we can play well.
Playing an away game, they are going to have a lot of emotion. I'm sure they are going to try to play extremely hard for their new defensive coordinator. It's important game for them, and when you're coming off a game maybe you think you should have played better, you normally prepare very well. So we will have our hands full.
Q. I think Missouri did the same thing prior to playing you guys last year. Is that right?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: You know, you are correct. Fortunately for us that, one worked out for us.
This team has played a lot of football. They started the season very well. They had some tough opponents and obviously last week didn't go the way they wanted, but that's football. We all have weeks where things don't go the way we want, and I'm sure they will respond. They are well-coached and they will come out ready to play.
Q. You mentioned the potential cold weather coming up Saturday. How do you address your team with that or is it something better left unsaid?
HEAD COACH JEFF BROHM: Well, we have to make sure we're practicing outside. We're in the elements. It won't be as cold here as it's going to be on Saturday.
Nothing more than letting them know it's going to be cold and you've got to go out there and execute and keep yourself warm and play football. I mean, this time of the year, wherever you're at, you could have some possible cold games. Obviously going to Minnesota in November, it's going to be cold, and you have to react to it and hopefully our guys can respond.
http://www.asapsports.com/show_conference.php?id=145432